Paint B’Ham Blue Pg. 10 ESC Open House Pg. 9 Trouble finding healthcare services Pgs. 6-7
Vol. 33 # 2 10.2.2017
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Alumni Association employee Mario Gonzalez takes a selfie with a viking helmet at Paint B’Ham Blue,Wednesday, Sept. 27. Cover photo by Hailey Hoffman Viking Union 411 516 High St. Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone: 360.650.6126 Fax: 360.650.6507 Email: as.review@wwu.edu as.wwu.edu/asreview @TheASReview facebook.com/theasreview © 2016. Published most Mondays during the school year by the Associated Students of Western Washington University. The AS Review is an alternative weekly that provides coverage of student interests such as the AS government, activities and student life. The Review seeks to enhance the student experience by shedding light on under-represented issues, inclusive coverage, informing readers and promoting dialogue.
IN THIS ISSUE NEWS 4 Fresh Tips Don’t miss these insider tips that even returning students may not know.
10 Paint B’ham Blue Check out cool pictures and coverage of the event.
STUDENT LIFE 6 Medical Desert Students medical needs are not being adequately met. Read real student perspectives and experiences.
11 AS Restructure The AS is getting a reboot.
FEATURES 8 Carver is Complete! Carver is done! Read about what this means for you.
12 TRIVIA Test your Western knowledge.
EVENTS Dolores presented by Community to Community- Doctober Screening Oct. 2 // 6:30-8 p.m. // Pickford Film Center // $8.50 This documentary tells the story of Dolores Huerta, an activist who worked alongside Cesar Chavez. She fought for racial and labor justice and was one of the most influential feminists of the twentieth century.
“Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia Oct. 4 // 6-7 p.m.// VU 552//Free (but accepting donations) NAMI on Campus will be showing “Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia”, a film about a women’s story, as a daughter and then as a doctor, of trying to reconnect with her father.
We welcome reader submissions, including news articles, literary pieces, photography, artwork or anything else physically printable. Email submissions to as.review@wwu.edu. We welcome letters to the editor. Please limit your letter to 300 words, include your name, phone number and year in school, if you’re a student. Send them to as.review@wwu.edu. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar.
No More Jail Taxes! Follow the Money to a Justice Revolution! Oct. 4// 6:30-9 p.m.// Leopold Hotel // Free
Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Writers
Learn more about Proposition 2017-6 and what it means for taxes in our county. This event is supported by various local organizations who are looking to benefit Whatcom County. You can find more information on Facebook about this
Erasmus Baxter Kira Stussy Hailey Hoffman Josh Hughes Gwen Frost Julia Berkman Hailey Murphy
Adviser Jeff Bates
event. The Kendama Club showed off their moves at the Info Fair. Photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review
Sunset Sea Kayaking Oct. 5 // 4:45-8:45 p.m. // Meet at VU 150 // $30 Paddle your stress away on this all-levels excursion put on by the Outdoor Center. The trip will take place at Bellingham bay. Registration ends at 4 p.m. the day of.
Top Ten Records: Sept. 17-23 1
I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone Chastity Belt
2
Vera Crooked Colors
3
First Landing Moon Boots
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Rocket (Sandy) Alex G
5
What Now Sylvan Esso
Show off your comedic talent or just come for the laughs.
6
Capacity Big Thief
Camp on Comm Lawn
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Mosaik Camo and Krooked
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Plastic Cough Great Grandpa
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Popular Manipulations The Districts
Women’s and Men’s Soccer Oct. 5 // Women’s at 5 p.m. Men’s at 7:30 p.m. // Harrington Field // $5 with ID Support both the women’s and men’s soccer teams right here on campus.
Suck Presents: Comedy Open Mic Night Oct. 5 // 7-9 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free
Oct. 6 // 6 p.m. - midnight // Communications Lawn // Free Come learn more about the Outdoor Center through games, free workshops, and an outdoor showing of “Hunt for the Wilderpeople”.
Cross Country WWU Classic Oct. 7 // 10 a.m. // Lake Padden // Free Watch our cross country team compete while simultaneously basking in the beauty of Lake Padden.
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Que Aura Kelley Stoltz
KUGS is the Associated Students’ studentrun radio station. Listen online at kugs. org. If you’re interested in getting on the waves, pick up a volunteer application in the station’s office on the seventh floor of the VU.
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Fresh tips for fresh students! BY GWEN FROST
1. Looking back on Freshmen year, many students wish they had known how to navigate the Behavioral Health Clinic at Western’s Health Center. “It’s good to see our University making the mental health of their students a priority, and it’s nice for students to be able to get access to necessary healthcare for free” Western student Raji Gill said. Westernis definitely dropping the ball in some respects here, though; the limit of sessions with a counselor is 6 appointments, and after that students are asked to look for a new doctor, or redirected towards one. Says Gill, “its cool we get 3 to 6 sessions, but I wish we would continue to add more resources regarding mental health.” For anyone who knows anything about mental health, it’s blatantly obvious that any serious mental illness cannot be solved in 3 to 6 appointments. However, you might as well take advantage of the free sessions you are entitled to! 2. The counseling center ran by grad students provides therapy as well! Western’s health center also offers a myriad of therapy groups, ranging from Eating Disorder support groups to Sexaul Assault recovery groups. This is a good way to unisolate from issues that could be bothering you; trust me, you’re not alone. 3. For junior Henry Leenstra, as a Freshman he wish he had known about the “jobs through the Associated Students in positions that work to promote social justice, sustainability, and solutions for many other critical issues.” At the Associated Students’ website, one can apply for a job that will have them working a five-minute walk from class. 4. The amount of clubs on campus leaves very little to ask for. From Business fraternities (for all “genders”) to Poetry Club and Socialism Club. Get involved politically, socially, or just for yourself, and do something you love, or do something you’ve always wanted to try! The majority of clubs at Western are run by students, for students. I personally believe the Beyoncé club is over-hyped and that Western only boosts it because Universities are corporations, and Western wants to advertise as a diverse and POC-friendly school, when there have actually been many problems with the administration ignoring the concerns of students of color. 5. There is unlimited access to photoshop and Lightroom for computers. If you’re into design or art, this will be a blessing. Says student Matthew Christianson: “most computers have it and you can ask for access from the western tech center to download a code for your own computer.” 6. The Disability Resources Center (DRS) is a gem and so are all of the people who work there. The DRS is housed on the bottom floor of Old Main, and you can talk to them about accessibility, getting modifications for your university experience and exemptions or extensions on tests. If you can’t take notes, the DRS will pay other students in your classes to scan and share detailed notes with you. 7. If you like to type in the night and don’t have a computer at home, you don’t have to be chained to Western’s insane policy of closing the library at 12:00 am; there is a 24-hour lab in Haggard Hall. Though Western is probably the only University in the world that doesn’t recognize that over half their student body is still studying after midnight, they compensate with this secret resource that no one is able to take advantage of because they didn’t tell anyone about it. 8. Speaking of secrets that we deserve to know because we pay for them, there is FREE PRINTING in the humanities building! Western gives 50 “free” prints for every quarter (they’re not free, we all pay thousands of dollars to be here), but after the 50 are used the begin to cost additional money. Maybe Western could stop patronizing Aramark for our dining halls, because it supports the Prison industrial complex, and instead use the money to give students the resources to do the tasks that are asked of them. 9. ATUS rentals are a lifesaver. As someone who has lost their laptop in their room upwards of 20 times, these rentals on the ground floor of Wilson library can save you so much money by supplying that $900 flashlight for your art project that you don’t have to buy from Home Depot anymore. Usually, Mac laptops have to be returned within 24 hours, but rentals can often be renewed, and objects that are less high in demand like flashdrives can sometimes be rented (for “free”) for months. You can also rent speakers for your next kegger. 10. Worried about paying hundreds (or a thousand) dollars for an ambulance to the emergency room? Western will pay for rides for Western students to and from the hospital through Yellow Cab! If you call the Student Health Center, (360)-650-3000, a ride can be arranged for no cost (to you). Just know your Western ID number and first and last name. If it's an emergency, I recommend getting a friend to drive you or calling 911, because if the cab company is busy there can be a wait. I have had a friend wait for one hour, while my longest wait has been about twenty minutes. Everyone should know about this- tell your friends and save them some dough.
Meet a Prof
BY GWEN FROST Name: Todd Donovan Position: Political Science Professor / County Councilmember Education background: M.A., Ph.D., Political Science, University of California-Riverside B.A., Economics, California State University, Sacramento Hometown: San Jose, California Teaching this quarter: Intro to American Politics and State & Local Politics. Select publications: “State and Local Politics: Institutions and Reform”, written Photo courtesy of Todd Donovan with T. C. Mooney and D. Smith (2009). “Why Iowa? How Caucuses and Sequential Elections Improve the Presidential Nominating Process”, written with D. Redlawsk and C. Tolbert (2011). QUESTIONS: What did you want to be when you grew up (as a kid)? I had no idea. No, seriously... nothing comes to mind. I think I just wanted to avoid the thought of a career. I mean, I did think of law school at some point, I was an econ major. When I was a kid I wanted to be an olympic marathon runner. Who do you think is profiting the most while our public-college costs are skyrocketing? I don’t think anybody is profiting. It’s a matter of ‘how much money the state is losing’, I think that’s a better way to put it. Costs are going up because state subsidies are going down. So, actually, the general taxpayer is profiting, with the cost of less access to school. What are you reading right now/most recently? What’s it about? Manuscripts of books that are in the works; I review book manuscripts. Some short-stories, like Raymond Carver. I’m thinking about what’s on my nightstand… a nonfiction book about fascism in Italy. Aside from necessities, what is one thing could you not go a day without? Coffee and beer. What three things do you think of the most each day? My wife and kids, of course, and elections and budgets. If you could join any past or current music group which would you want to join? Why? The Clash. I like their music, but I’m not sure I’d really want to be in the band. Favorite song by them? Bank Robber Dub; not their best, bit obscure, but, it’s what came to mind.
Voting: Do it and you’re cool No disrespect to Young Thug BY JOSH HUGHES
There is a line in a recent Young Thug song that goes office is part of the REP (Representation & Engagement going up against each other in district 3. The final County “I’m rich so I don’t have to vote”. While I can appreciate Programs), which can be found in VU 435, and there you Council seat will see Harry Robinson and Alicia Rule face many aspects of Thug’s poetic ramblings, I can assure you, can find help on how to register. Even easier, their weboff for the Blaine district. as a “broke college student”, this lyric is blatantly wrong. site, http://as.wwu.edu/rep/, contains a big, bold face link For the Bellingham City Council position, notable Red Regardless of class or race or anything else that might on the homepage that takes you straight to where you can Square Trump supporter and hate speech enthusiast Eric impact one’s decision on whether to vote or not, the right register to vote online. Bostrom will be running against incumbent councilmemanswer is to vote! Once you’ve registered to vote, there still lies the ber Roxanne Murphy. While students at Western can easily get bogged down question of what to vote for. The biggest current topic In addition to the City Council positions, this upcomin academics, extracurriculars and extraneous social acin Whatcom County is the County Council elections, ing election will also include a vote for Port Commissiontivities, it’s important to remember that all students have which will take place in the General Election on Novemer and Water District Commissioner, both of which will the agency and power to voice their have important impacts on the envisay on relevant issues and governronment as well as involve relevant mental positions. Western Votes, a issues such as the low barrier shelter nonpartisan on-campus group, is here for the homeless, and the future of to help students with all their voting Bellingham International Airport and concerns or questions, making it even Blaine Harbor. easier to vote and stay informed as a Though 2017 marks an off-cycle college student. election year, local elections remain While on campus AS elections important in the day to day lives happen every spring quarter, Western of citizens. Issues that city council Votes has nothing to do with Westmembers actively take part in decidern’s internal governance and election ing include making Bellingham an cycle. Instead, their focus is on getting inclusive environment that welcomes students politically involved at local, and protects immigrants, exploring afstate and federal levels. If you’ve seen fordable housing solutions throughout someone on campus this last week the county, determining alternatives holding a clipboard and a pen, there’s to incarceration, and keepin Whata good chance that they’re a student com Lake water clean. Additionally, rep of Western Votes trying to get stuCounty Council will have a say on the dents registered before the impending future of Cherry Point, which could October 9 deadline. still become an export corridor for Yes, October 9 is the online deadcrude oil and fracked gas. line for voter registration and address These issues and more will become change for the general election cycle, Western Votes volunteers talk to students in Red Square Wednesday, Sept. more relevant throughout the coming giving students a mere week to get year, after election season has passed, so 28. Photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review their act together and register! While it’s important to get informed about the the general election does not occur until November 7, ber 7. After the primaries last year, the candidates got candidates before November 7. If you’ve yet to register, state voters’ pamphlets start getting mailed out as soon as waned down to what the final ballot will look like, which there’s still a week left, so go online or get in touch with voter registration closes. If you’re lost on how to register includes liberals Todd Donovan and Amy Glasser facing Western Votes to make sure all your voting information is or change your address, Western Votes can help. Their off for district 2, with Rebecca Boonstra and Tyler Byrd up to date.
REGISTER TO VOTE BY OCTOBER 9 AT as.wwu.edu/rep/ Bellingham needs you!
M ed i cal Desert ?
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Students seeking specialty care face limited, expensive options and long commutes — all while trying to go to school BY JULIA BERKMAN
W
hen you have a chronic the right to defer any student with sands if they aren’t in your network. sets you up with a counselor who can fresh and was expecting to start over illness, life doesn’t slow needs they feel they can’t meet. HowUnfortunately, the counseling center go through your accommodations with another doctor who specialized in down. Time passes at ever, some of these needs seem quite functions a lot like the health centerwith you.These accommodations may my condition. In Bellingham, there are the same rate as it ever has, and soon basic. The counseling center often deif you’re feeling down in the dumps include excused absences, extra time none. The closest specialist to me was enough you’re old enough to go to col- fers students who need weekly appoint- or anxious you can usually in Seattle. With no car and lege- and you’re still sick. For students ments, as well as students who require get the short-term help you no time, my treatment took "I came far from home to start fresh with disabilities living in Bellingham, “open-ended, ongoing psychotherapy.” need. Have a mental illness a backseat to my education. and was expecting to start over with an- Thankfully, I’m now in you might have to choose between If you’ve ever been in therapy, you that’s difficult to treat? Betyour education and adequate care. know that ongoing weekly meetings are ter look elsewhere. other doctor who specialized in my condi- remission. I’m lucky. For Now, especially with ACA potentially the norm. “My needs are met now, the thousands of students at tion. In Bellingham, there are none." being repealed and replaced, finding a Unfortunately, the Counseling center but only after a year of me Western with disabilities? good doctor in your network is hard. is referring people to a scarce world of actively seeking help off They may not have a doctor There are many on-campus options psychiatric care in Bellingham. Withcampus. On-campus help in their corner to help them available for the average ailing student in your insurance network, there may felt impersonal and only made me feel on tests, late work, and so on. Employget there. - cold or flu, you can hit the health only be one psychologist or psychialike a burden, and off-campus help ees at the DRS have also noticed the center for some dayquil and a lollipop. trist who has the area of expertise you was harder to find and expensive,” said difficulty in referring new students, but When you factor in mental illness, require. Part of good therapy is buildCunningham. perhaps even if you don’t have great your chances of a drive-thru cure ing rapport with your professional. If auren Lemieux, a Junior, is in a quality of care, you can at least have decrease. you don’t click, that’s it. If they don’t similar position. a more equitable student experience, A former student employee at the have any time available, that’s it. You’ve “I've been looking for rheumatolothanks to the DRS. Disability Resource Center said they exhausted your options. gists, but now recently I've been trying “I was super nervous had noticed a difficulty in referring “The counseling center directed me to find a specialist for my newly worsto go [to the DRS] new students, but couldn’t provide to off campus resources, many of whom ening vertigo and ear problems, and it's because getting acmore details due to confidentiality didn't take my insurance. Of those who been quite the task,” Lemieux said. commodations when concerns. did take my insurance, none had space Her laundry list of conditions, I went to Washington unior Sophia Cunincluding rheumatoid State University was “The counseling center directed me to off cam- idiopathic arthritis and ningham was given really hard, and also low chances of finding fibromyalgia, have left because I always feel pus resources, many of whom didn't take my a specialist when she her with chronic pain and a bit ashamed to ask,” moved to Bellingham and insurance. Of those who did take my insurance, exhaustion. Lemieux said. “But it none had space for me.” began seeking EMDR It can be hard, with a was so quick and easy. treatment. EMDR is a disability, to even get up in I feel super comfortSophia Cunningham therapy similar to expothe morning. But Lemieux able asking for what Junior sure therapy, used to help makes the trek back down I need from both the people overcome things to Seattle to visit her docpeople working there that trigger them. It’s experimental, so for me,” Cunningham said. “I eventual- tors every week. and my teachers now,” it’s hard to find a doctor that runs the ly caved and am now seeing a specialist “Driving that far costs extra gas ike Lauren, I program in smaller towns. To find one for EMDR who unfortunately doesn't money and it's hard to fit in doctor's started college within your network is an even bigger take my insurance, so I am paying out appointments an hour away when you with a long-term struggle. of pocket for the help I need.” have school,“ said Lemieux. illness that impacted “I sought help at the school counany students can’t afford the Unfortunately, this is the only hope every aspect of my life. seling center early in the year, only for luxury of paying out of pocket. she has of balancing her schoolwork I took 30 pills a day, them to tell me they didn't have the Just one therapy session with a psychol- and managing her chronic conditions. was on a very strict resources to help me with my issues, ogist can cost upwards of $500 without n answer to managing chrondiet, and experienced “Driving that far costs extra gas money and it's hard to fit in doctor's apso they just prescribed me an SSRI insurance. For medical doctors, the ic symptoms at Western is the a wide range of symppointments an hour away when you have school,“ said Lemieux. Hailey [antidepressant] that worsened my price is even higher if they prescribe Disability Resources for Students office toms from fatigue to negative symptoms,” Cunningham said. medication or take blood. You can leave located in Old Main room 120 . With insomnia. I came far Hoffman // AS Review Western’s counseling center reserves a doctor’s office with bills in the thoua doctor’s note of diagnosis, the DRS from home to start
Disability Resources for Students OM 120 drs@wwu.edu 360.650.3083 (Voice) 360.255.7175 (VP)
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Junior Lauren Lemieux commutes to Seattle every week to visit her doctors. Hailey Hoffman // AS Review
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Carver construction is complete! BY GWEN FROST
Construction on Carver Gym began in August 2015 and, this August, was finally Prado was one of the many students who got to experience Western’s old Carver completed before school started. With the renovation of the Carver facility comfacility, walk past the forklifts everyday, and then see the payoff of two years of pleted, fall quarter of 2017 will start out with a fresh new facility where for two lectures shouted over construction. years had only been a gated construction site. Carver will serve as another public “Being able to walk into the new building and graduate there really felt like I building to house large volume academic activities, athletics and other campus-life came full circle with my time here at Western,” Prado said, which could easily be activities. The Carver gym will house athletic events which the public is open to used on the brochure on the back of the fairy-tale underdog story that is the Carver attend, something that had previously been lacking in campus life during the demfacility. olition and renovation. Finally, he said something I could get behind: ”I couldn’t help but think though The old facility did not meet earthquake requirements, and piping failures un- what if just some of the money spent on the new facilities instead went to expandderneath the building dumped thousands of gallons of raw sewage, according to ing the counseling center, which is much needed?” the university. Though contention in the student body was incited at the concept Let’s just pretend for one second that Western claims to not have the funds to of using their tuition to pay for the facility, the majority of the funding was taken reopen a college for Ethnic Studies, even though Angela freakin’ Davis came to and approved by Washington State Legislature as part of the 2015-2017 state capital Western and said onstage to give the students the college. Let’s pretend it’s easy to budget. The Carver Academget mental health support, and ic Renovation and Addition let’s pretend campus is accesproject was given $77.4 milsible everyday for people with lion from “state funds”. disabilities, year round. Even Paul Cocke, director of if we deceived ourselves as so, the Office of Communications why does this scenario remind and Marketing, said that with me of paying taxes for an the 150 to 200 workers on site overseas-war that I don’t want each day since construction to be in? began in 2015, the facility has If you aren’t on one of created about $55.6 million in Western’s 15 Varsity sports economic impact in Whatcom teams, then you may be County. unhappy to discover that not The project is receiving all of the $81 million dollar is about “$4 million in instituopen for every student; there tional funds from the univerare, in-fact, areas that are for sity to finish construction”, student athletes specifically. saidCocke, bringing the entire If you are a student athlete, sum of the Carver project to get hyped to enjoy the Parberabout $81.5 million. ry Fitness Center, an academic The Bellingham Herald skills lab, an improved training reported in September 2015 suite, lockers for over 300 stuthat “Western will need to dent athletes, including team Students flock past the newly finished gymnasium facility on the first week of pay back $6 million,” but the rooms for men’s and women’s Herald was not clear where the classes. Photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review basketball and volleyball, added University would be getting gym space (a full additional the money to pay this sum back. The original estimate was at $73 million, and the gym), and a softball batting cage that drops from the ceiling in Gym A. building was also projected to be complete by Spring 2017. So though the facility The new facility will also feature a dedicated Athletics Hall of Fame Room, made was more expensive and created later than anticipated, it will also have crepes! possible through a private donation, displaying the plaques of all 140 current The new facility will have prioritized ADA access to classrooms, labs and offices members, Cocke said.With a shrine for those who can both run and read, student throughout the building. The renovation also provides classrooms, computer labs, athleticism at Western might become something that the student body is aware of. movement labs, instructional space, offices, support facilities and gymnasiums for If you want to come see inside the mystery, a public open house will be Health and Human Development, Campus Recreation, and Athletics. The renovatFriday, Oct. 13, with a dedication at 1 p.m. The open house, refreshments and ed Carver building contains six gender neutral restrooms. Among the new sustainself-guided tours will be happening from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. able features of the new building include “LED lighting throughout the facility, a Not only will the new facility serve to improve the quality of life for student athgreen roof at the second level, and motion sensor lighting control,” said Cocke. letes exponentially, it will also include the Freshens Fresh Food Studio and Burrito Martín Prado, 2017 Western graduate,participated in the first graduation cereBar which will have had food options including but not limited to: smoothies, mony held at the renovated Carver. salads, international rice bowls, mac and cheese bowls, hand-crafted crepes, wraps “It was great to be back inside Carver. When I was a freshman I remember going and burritos. I will be doing pushups and eating mac and cheese in the student there for basketball games and then they started re-construction,” Prado said. athlete hall of fame.
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ESC open house highlights Multicultural Center plans
BY JULIA BERKMAN
New space begins construction this year
Students of color flocked to the Ethnic Student be a new Multicultural Center. heels of Carver Gym. Students in support of the Center on Thursday, Sept. 28 to discuss upcoming This proposal sparked controversy with Western project argued that, as an umbrella for 17 different events at the ESC Open House. The ESC and surstudents. Some felt that the expansion was unnecesorganizations, they couldn’t all fit comfortably in rounding floor were chock full offaculty and stusary, and just another construction site on the close such a small space. Simrun Chhabra, current AS dents alike, all excited about the upPresident, considered support of the coming year. Between the upcoming Multicultural Center construction to be SUCCESS conference at Camp Casey a key point of her platform. and the construction of the MulticulJunior Olivia Westerfield put it more tural Center, students involved with frankly. the ESC have a lot to look forward “This place is fucking tiny and it’s hot to! and we’re all sweaty. We’re just tryna jam Among the subjects up for discusand be brown, so let us have this space,” sion, the brand new Multicultural they said. Center stole the show. Eric AlexanFreshman Jaleen Roberts agreed. der, Associate Dean for Student En“I think the ESC is hidden right now. gagement and Director of the Viking You see the Viking Union and you don’t Union, has been a part of the planknow where anything else is,” she said. ning stages for the past four years. The SUCCESS conference, another “This is such a huge change from huge moment for the ESC, is from Oct. what we have now. It's not the only 13-15. Students of all colors and ages are change we need to make, not the invited to attend a 3 day bonding event only thing we need to do, but it's an at Camp Casey. incredible addition. It's something “Before I got here, I looked up what that was built around the needs the the stats are of the races on campus, students continue and will continue and it’s like 85 percent white,” Roberts to bring,” Alexander said. “It’s built said. “I came from a really diverse high with a lot of heart.” school, so I want to feel at home on ESC Assistant Director Lafayette campus.” Baker agreed. She hopes the SUCCESS conference is “In our current center, we just have a good way to meet fellow POC. one main multipurpose space, but The theme of the Ethnic Students Centhey’ll have more room and they'll ter open house this year seemed to be have a lot of opportunities to do growth and hope. Office Assistant and programs, to relax, to come togethSophomore Celiea Moran is optimistic er. I think it’ll be very exciting. I about the future of the ESC. started working here in October, so I “I think it’s really going to grow and I wasn’t really involved in the planthink there’s going to be a lot more peoning. Things were pretty much set ple involved. I heard that this freshmen in motion when I came on board,” class has a lot more POC and ethnic Baker said. diversity,” Moran said. Of course, Alexander and Baker “With the expansion, I know the would have nothing to build if it ESC is going to blossom and be a really wasn’t for the unrelenting efforts pronounced thing on campus. People of of students involved with the ESC. color empowerment on campus is really Concerns with the size of the Ethnic Students chat during the ESC open house on the fourth floor of the going to grow.” Student Center came to a head in late Viking Union, Thursday, Sept. 28. Photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS 2014, but it wasn’t until the 2016-2017 school year that students were asked Review to vote on whether or not there would
Paint B’ham Blue for WWU
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BY JULIA BERKMAN
On Wednesday, Western freshmen gathered in Red Square to Herald in the new school year with mac and cheese, fireworks and face painting. Once a year, Western alumni and students alike set up shop at Depot Market Square in downtown Bellingham to watch the Herald Building sign turn blue. Varsity athletes as well as the Squalicum High School pep band guided the incoming students down High Street and to Market Square amid air horns and loud fanfares. At the head of the pack, President Sabah Randhawa and AS President Simrun Chhabra! Upon their arrival at Depot Market Square, students joined the masses roaming the array of stalls, food
Marching into the new year
trucks and Western sponsors. Free mac and cheese from Boundary Bay Brewery was accompanied by food trucks like Pizza’za, La Gloria Taqueria and Goat Mountain. On stage, tunes were spun by Western alumnus and D.J. Nathan Cox before being handed over to Bellingham duo Noisywaters. Noisywaters just released their new album VERANO in July. The band will be headlining at the State of Bliss Anniversary show at the Alternative Library on Sept. 29. Despite some sound issues, Noisywaters had the crowd of over 300 students cheering. Bubbles and glow sticks were handed out to the audience while they danced. At 7:45 p.m., Sabah took to the stage to an-
Restructuring the AS and the future of BY JOSH HUGHES student-led committees
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Fireworks illuminate the sky and showcase the Bellingham Herald. Students enjoy the Paint B’ham Blue festivities. Western students are led by President Sabah Randhawa from the school to downtown. Noisywaters plays for the crowd of 300. Photos by Hailey Hoffman // As Review
nounce the beginning of another year at Western, as well as expressing his thanks to the alumnus for sponsoring the event. Then, the countdown for the fireworks began. As the sky lit up with pyrotechnics, the Herald sign turned from its signature red to a brilliant Western blue. The crowd was silent, save for the atmospheric synth of Noisywaters. It was truly a stunning display. After that, Western freshmen were invited to exit the event together, though many stayed while Noisywaters played their last few songs. Paint B’ham Blue served as the perfect welcome for our new students and for the former students as well. Have a great beginning of the year!
TOP LEFT:Students march downtown for the event. TOP RIGHT: Student leaders pump up the crowd. MIDDLE: Noisywaters perform downtown. BOTTOM: Paint B’ham Blue procession. Photos by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review
Last year, during AS elections, a whopping 1,748 students voted for the proposed restructure in AS operations. While that number might seem shockingly low compared to the student body of 15,000, only 88 students voted against the referendum (yes, this is due to low voting turnout, but that’s another story altogether). This means that over the remainder of 2017, the SRC (Structure Review Committee, not to be confused with SRC- student rec center) will spend the entirety of their meeting time preparing a new outline for the future of the Associated Students, referred to in proposals and documents as ASWWU. The process, which will be implemented by the end of September 2018, includes significant changes regarding how the AS will perform as a cohesive body. While the SRC is in the middle of making important decisions regarding the fate of the student organization, here’s a rundown of the notable changes students can expect to see in the next couple years, as taken from the new AS Constitution: Though the AS currently runs as a singular body, the restructure involves forming three distinct parties from within the AS: the Executive, the Senate and the Program Council, each of which will contain distinct responsibilities and expectations relating to the student body at Western. The purpose of the AS will still center on representing students at Western and providing opportunity for leadership development within the community, but the restructure aims to make these goals more robust and clearly defined. The Executive, which will make up a majority of the existing AS, will be composed of positions such as AS President, Vice President for Diversity, Vice President for Governmental Affairs and Vice President for Sustainability, the last of which marks a new student position that does not currently exist in the AS. These positions make up the heart of annual AS elections, something returning students will know well. The Executive will serve as representatives of AS to university administration, the Board of Trustees and other agencies. The board will have power to appoint student reps to committees throughout campus, and the board will keep the responsibility of voicing the student body’s concerns and interests. If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because this constitutes pretty much exactly what the AS Board does, and has done, for some years. Interesting changes start to arise when considering the other two categories of the proposed AS. The AS Senate does not exist in the current AS. Likely the largest restructure in the proposal, the AS Senate will function as a student-led body that will specifically focus on academic affairs within Western. “The ASWWU Senate seeks to increase student awareness and involvement in the academic affairs of the university and represents students through positions on various academic committees,” reads the proposed constitution for the new AS, which can be read online through the AS website at http://www.as.wwu.edu/ elections/referendum/aswwu-restructure/. The Senate will be comprised of students from every college and, like the current AS Board, the students elected will serve a one year term. The only caveat is that students will only be able to vote for senators in colleges that they are currently enrolled in. This hopes to create a well-rounded Senate that accurately represents interests of all students at Western, regardless of their field of study. Lastly, the restructure also includes a proposed Program Council that will provide guidance and direction for co-curricular programs and student activities. This would mean that every department, including facilities-based, such as Lakewood, will have an opportunity to have one representative on the council. The goal of the Program Council would solely focus on coordinating a wide range of inclusive student activities, programs and organizations. The proposed constitution also includes a segment on “centralized services”, or issues and topics that extend beyond one of the three AS departments. These sorts of “services” will largely entail financial and operational functions, and a combined board of the different branches will be able to vote on these overlapping topics. It’s important to note that this proposed constitution for a restructured AS will supersede previous governing AS documents, making the restructure an even more notable transition in the future of Associated Students and Western as a whole. While the SRC continues to meet to create and decide upon important bylaws for the different branches, students can expect a similar AS experience this coming school year to previous years. Once the committee finishes their work and the new structure is implemented, students will be able to approve or disapprove the specifics of the new AS sometime in Spring 2019.
How well do you know your school?
12 • as.wwu.edu/asreview
1. How many students are enrolled at Western this year (rounded up)? a. 16,000 b. 20,100 c. 15, 500 d. 10,500 2. What is the average class size at Western? a. 55 b. 121 c. 15 d. 29 3. What year was Western founded? a. 1901 b. 1893 c. 1953 d. 1839
4. Now, do you know what month Western was founded? a. June b. April c. September d. February 5. What about the DAY? a. 30 b. 12 c. 5 d. 21
Photo by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review
Answers to last week’s Harry Potter trivia: (1) c. 15 broomsticks are flown during a quidditch match. (2) d. Harry eats gillyweed to breathe underwater during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. (3) c. Sectumsempra is not an Unforgiveable Curse.
(4) a. Harry, Ron and Hermione went to Nearly Headless Nick’s party in the Chamber of Secrets. (5) c. Lee Jordan was the quidditch commentator during Harry’s first years att Hogwarts.
First day of school!
Photos and interviews by Hailey Hoffman // AS Review
Duncan Lang He/Him/His Music Performance Freshman “I’m really excited to work with the director of Jazz Studies here, Kevin Woods. I’ve known him for many years now. He used to teach at the Falls in Spokane, where I’m from. I took lessons from him for four years. I hope to improve as a Jazz musician and attain more knowledge and understanding of music.”
Sasha Childers She/Her/Hers Special Education Super Senior “To graduate and to accomplish my goals and hang out with my friends. To pass my classes and to teach students well and to help students learn. I want to be an effective teacher that makes a difference in students’ lives.”
Chante Powell She/Her/Hers Business Management First Year Sophomore “I’m excited to live alone and be more independent because I want to adult and not be a kid anymore. I like my freedom.”